Content Page

1. Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
2. History-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
3. Conducting the test-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
4. Result interpretation-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
5. Correlation between PMT and others soil parameters----------------------------------------6
6. Advantage and Limitation of PMT------------------------------------------------------------------7
6.1 Advantage------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7
6.2 Limitations------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7
7. Reference-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8

Figure and Table content

1. Figure 2.a Louis Menard------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
2. Figure 2.b Menard’s pressuremeter schematical drawing-----------------------------------2
3. Figure 2.c Cambridge Self – boring Pressuremeter----------------------------------------------3
4. Figure 3.a Pressure Vs total cavity volume-------------------------------------------------------5
5. Table 3.1 Nominal and Maximum bore hole diameter for each probe diameter--------4
6. Table 5.1 Menard’s α Factor-------------------------------------------------------------------------6
 PRESSUREMETER TEST
1. INTRODUCTION
Pressuremeters are devices for carrying out insitu testing of soil and rocks for strength and
stiffness parameters. They are generally cylindrical, long with respect to their diameter, part of
this length being covered by flexible membrane.

There are many different types of pressuremeter devices and many ways to insert the pressure
meter probe in to the ground.

Some types of pressuremeteres are :

 Pre – boring pressuremeter

 Self - boring pressuremeter
 73 mm high pressure dialetometer
 95 mm high pressure dialetometer
 45 mm reduced pressure metere (RPM)
 Pencil pressuremeter (PPMT) developed by Cosentino et al. (2006)
 Cambridge pressuremeter

Some ways of inserting the pressuremeter includes:

 Pushing
 Pre – boring a hole in to which the probe is placed
 Self – boring where the instrument makes its own hole.

2. HISTORY

The pressuremeter was originally developed by Louis Menard (1956) and modified by Briaud
and Shields (1979). The pre – boring pressuremeter is also called Menard’s pressuremeter or
sub – soil deformeter.

Figure 2.a Louis Menard

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Menard’s pressure meter can be used to determining the stress – deformation characteristics
of soils in the natural condition. This pressuremeter consists of an inflatable cylindrical probe
(measuring cell and two guard cells, at the top and bottom of measuring cell, which are used to
protect the wall of the soil from being collapsing during pushing by the measuring cell).

Figure 2.b Menard’s pressuremeter schematical drawing.

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 Figure 2.c Cambridge Self – boring Pressuremeter

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3. CODUCTING THE TEST

The test is conducted in pre - bored hole with a diameter between 1.03 and 1.2 times the
nominal diameter of the probe. The probe that is most commonly used has a diameter of 58
mm and a length of 420 mm. The probe cell can be inflated by using liquid (water) under an
applied gas pressure (CO2) and the pressure and volume readings taken continuously. A
pressure Vs volume – change curve is then plotted from which shear strength and strain
characteristics may be evaluated.

Table 3.1 Nominal and Maximum bore hole diameter for each probe diameter.

In order to conduct a test, the measuring cell volume, Vo, is measured and the probe is inserted
in to the bore hole. Pressure is applied and the new volume of the cell is measured. The process
is continued until the soil fails or until the pressure limit of the device is reached. The soil is
considered to have failed when the total volume of the expanded cavity (V) is about twice the
volume of the original cavity. After the completion of the test, the probe is deflated and
advanced for testing at another depth.

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 Figure 3.a Pressure Vs total cavity volume

Modern instruments, such as the Cambridge pressuremeter, are not only self – boring but will
also provide measurements of a horizontal strain and pore pressure, thus allowing a complete
effective stress-strain curve to be drawn. From this curve the undrained or drained shear
strength as well as the shear modulus and Poisson’s ratio may be determined.

4. RESULT INTERPRETATION

The results of the pressuremeter test are expressed in the graphical form of pressure verses
volume as shown in Figure 3.a.

 Zone I represents the reloading portion during which the soil around the borehole is
pushed back in to the initial state (i.e. the state it was in before drilling). The pressure P 0
represents the insitu total horizontal stress.
 Zone II represents a pseudo elastic zone in which the cell volume verses cell pressure is
practically linear. The pressure Pf represents the limit pressure.
 Zone III is representing the plastic zone. The pressure Pl represents the limiting pressure.
 After the plastic limit, there is no change in the volume with further increase in
pressure.

The pressuremeter modulus, Ep, (slope of the pseudo elastic portion) of the soil is determined
with the use of the theory of expansion of an infinitely thick cylinder. Thus,

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 Δp
E p =2(1+μ s )(V 0 +υ m )( )
Δυ

Where

υ0 +υ f
υ m=
2
ΔP=Pl −P0

Δυ=υ f −υ 0

μs = Poisson’s ratio (which may be assumed to be 0.33)

The limiting pressure,

Pl , is determined by plotting the pressure against the reciprocal of the volume.

5. CORRELATION BETWEEN PMT AND OTHERS SOIL PARAMETERS

 Menard (1965) proposed that

Ep
Es =
α
Where
Es = modulus deformation of soil
Ep
α = rheological coefficient, the value depends on the type of soil and Pl ratio.
Table 5.1 Menard’s α Factor

 Kulhawy and Mayne (1990) proposed that

'
σ c=0 . 45 Pl
'
Where σ c = Preconsolidation pressure

 Baguelin et. al. (1978) proposed that,

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 Pl −P 0
Cu =
Np
Where
Cu = undrained shear strength of clay
Ep
N p =1+ln( )
3 Cu

Typical value of
N p = 5 to 12, an average value of 8.5 is taken.

 Ohay et al.(1982) and Kulhawy and Mayne (1990) correlated

E p with field standard

penetration number (
N 60 ) for sand and clay as;
0 .63
E p =1930 N 60 for clay soil and
E p =908 N 060. 66 for sand soil.

6. ADVANTAGE AND LIMITATION OF PMT

6.1 ADVANTAGE

1. A large number of fundamental soil properties are obtained from a single test.
2. To drive these properties, no empirical correcting factors are nedded.
3. Measurements are made insiu at the appropriate confining stress.
4. A large volume of material tested.
5. Representative load is applied.
6. Results can be obtained quickly.
7. The pressuremeter test is practically appropriet for predicting the performance of
laterally loaded piles.

6.2 LIMITATION

1. The instrument will not penetrate gravels, claystones or the like, so generally it
requires support from convectional drilling techniques. (for the case of SBPMT).
2. The instruments and associate equipment are complex by conventional site
investigation standards and can only be operated by trained personnel.
3. Use of inappropriate analysis to interpret a pressuremeter test can result in seriously
misleading parameters.
4. To reduce, in some instance, elimination of the range of pressure within the linear
pseudoelastic region, and thus to introduce errors in evaluating the original in situ

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 lateral stresses and the pressuremeter modulus due to relaxation of the wall of
borehole.

7. REFERENCES

1. Karl Terzaghi, Ralph B. Peck, Gholamreza Mesri – 3rd edition, 1966 “Soil Mechanics in
Engineering Practice” , John and Wiley & sons, Inc.
2. Braja M.Das, Sixth edition, “Principles of Foundation Engineering”
3. Dr. K.R. Arora, “Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering”, Standard puplisher
distributer.
4. R.Whitlow, Third Edition, 1995, “Basic Soil Mechanics”, Longman Group Limited.